Sales of the highly anticipated new installment in Apple's flagship lineup of smartphones, the iPhone 5S hit store shelves for real on Friday all around the world. Despite some color options being off limits until they ship for a few weeks, Apple fans have nonetheless been camped outside of their local retailers all night in anticipation of the new iPhone 5S.
"I'm not a big Apple fan or anything," Chris Walker, 44 told USA Today, who had been waiting in line since about 3:30 a.m. "But the consensus was it is time for me to get one."
Tattoo artist Tyler Ferguson and friend Mike Scott, both 25, were waiting at the Best Buy in Fort Myers, Fla. about four hours before the store opened, sitting in lawn chairs on the side walk most of the time watching TV and movies on an Apple laptop. Luckily they had the laptop to entertain them because by 7:50, no more than five customers were waiting at the store's doors. The die-hard fans were undeterred.
Ferguson said he has owned an iPhone since the first one came out.
"Having a reliable phone with a good camera is important. My whole portfolio is online," the tattoo artist said. He uses his phone to post work on his Facebook and Instagram pages directly to promote his business. His social media presence has reportedly drawn in customers from as far away as Tampa and Miami, two and three hour drives respectively USA Today writes.
"I'm kind of geek-savvy. I kind of like to have the newest phone," said Scott, a Fort Myers resident who works with his dad in a home-remodeling business. He went on to joke that "there'll be work today, but not much attention.
One blogger at GeekWire rushed over after work last night and found himself 14th in line. The man who was number one outside the Apple Store in Walnut Creek, Calif. had been there since noon. Now that the initial early morning sales are done, only time will tell how users react to Apple's latest smartphone.